Apparatus for Counting and Displaying and the Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

A counting and indication device for jumping a rope comprising in combination at least a detection unit for detection of a rope to be used when jumping the rope; a counting device that is connected to the detection unit for counting the moments that the rope passes as detected by the detection unit; and a display device for showing the count of the counting device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of international Patent Application Serial No. PCT/NL2009/050145, entitled “Apparatus for Counting and Displaying and the Use Thereof”, to Ring Bay Sportswear and Marinus L. Beusenberg, filed on Mar. 25, 2009, and the specification and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of Netherlands Patent Application Serial No. N2001465, entitled “Apparatus for Counting and Displaying and the Use Thereof”, filed on Apr. 10, 2008, and the specification and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)

The present invention relates to a counting and indication device for jumping the rope, comprising in combination at least:

-   -   a detection unit for detection of the rope to be used when         jumping the rope,     -   a counting unit that is connected to the detection unit for         counting the moments that the rope passes as detected by the         detection unit, and     -   a display device for showing the count of the device.

2. Description of Related Art

Such a device is known from and NL-C-1 004 264 and from U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,766.

In the consumer market as well as in fitness rooms in hotels or elsewhere, gymnasiums and other places there is a need for a device with which training efforts that are performed while jumping the rope can be measured and displayed. From the prior art mentioned above such a counting and indication device is known whereby in the handle of the rope to be used provisions are included for keeping track of the number of jumps. From WO 02/07826 such a device is known making use of provisions measuring the amount of energy used.

The invention aims at providing a counting and indication device which is suitable for use with any rope and wherein at least the number of rope revolutions, and indirectly the number of jumps can be automatically detected and displayed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The counting and indication device as well as the use of it is to that end characterized by one or more of the appended claims.

The applicant has found through extensive research that the counting and indication device according to the invention can optimately operate when the detection unit comprises a radar transmitter and receiver.

It is for a good operation of the device preferable that the radar transmitter and receiver is operable on a frequency of approximately 24 GHz,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated into and forms a part of the specification, illustrates one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawing is only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows the counting and indication device for jumping the rope according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As is commonly known the jumping of a rope is a very intensive activity. In connection therewith it is desirable that the radar transmitter and receiver possesses a transmittion and receipt angle amounting in the horizontal plane of approximately 70° and in the vertical plain of approximately 11°.

The reliable and effective measuring of the number of jumps in jumping the rope is especially facilitated by the feature that the detection unit is arranged for observing at least two parameters that are characteristic for the movement of the rope.

It is proven advantageous that the at least two parameters comprise speed and distance of the rope measured to the detection unit, As a third parameter the length of the rope can be taken into account.

In order to be able to register the rather intensive training exercise it is desirable that the display unit is at least a four digit display. This allows for the registration and display of a maximum of 9,999 jumps, thereafter with a suitable embodiment of the counting device, counting can be continued by displaying the number of jumps further by count-ing back until the display unit shows again the number zero, In selecting a five digit display this number can be increased by a factor of 10.

Practice has shown that it is also desirable that the counting and indication device comprises an indicator for showing the elapsed time.

As a particular suitable and practical embodiment it is therefore proposed that the indicator comprises a number of switchable light sources that are arranged in a circle.

Also in relation to limiting of the energy consump-tion it is desirable that the light sources are light emitting diodes.

The use that can be made of the counting and indication device by a person that is jumping the rope, is characterized by having the jumping of the rope occur in the transmittal and receipt angle of the radar transmittal and receipt device on a distance of the jumping person should to the device amounting to at least approximately 3.5 meters.

In practice the counting and indication device is to be mounted on a height with respect to the floor on which the jumping occurs, in the range of 0.5 to 2 meters in order to secure a good operability.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing showing in a single figure the counting and indication device according to the invention and the use of it.

In the single figure reference number 1 shows the counting and indication device for jumping the rope according to the invention. This device 1 is executed as a unit and mounted on the wall 2.

The counting and indication device 1 according to the invention comprises a detection unit 3 for detection of the rope 4 which is used in jumping of the rope by the person 5.

Furthermore the counting and indication device 1 comprises a (not shown) counting organ which is connected to the detection units 3 for counting the moments that the rope 4 passes as detected by the detection unit 3, as well as a display organ 6 for showing the count, that is the number of passing moments of the rope 4 as counted by the counting organ.

The detection unit 3 comprises a radar transmitter and receiver unit.

In the embodiment of the detection unit 3 with the radar-sender and receiver it is preferable that this can operate on a frequency of at least approximately 24 GHz. The radar-sender and receiver 3 has preferably a transmitter and receipt-angle which is in the horizontal plane approximately 70° and in the vertical plane approximately 11°. This allows that effectively the jumping of the rope by the person 5 can be detected and counted in a large range in front of the counting and indication device 1. It has been proven that jumping the rope can be performed on a distance of the jumping person in respect of the counting and indication device 1 amounting to at most approximately 3.5 meters.

FIG. 1 shows by the way that the counting and indication device 1 can be placed relatively high. In practice the height with respect to the floor surface suffices when it is in the range of 0.5-2 meters.

The detection unit 3 is preferably arranged for detecting of at least two parameters that are characteristic for the movement of the rope 4. These two parameters of the rope 4 concern the speed and distance of the rope in respect of the detection unit 1. The length of the rope 4 can also be taken into account.

It is preferable that the display unit 6 is a four digit display. Further it is preferable that the counting and indication device 1 is arranged with an indicator 7 for showing the elapsed time. This indicator 7 is to this end for instance executed as a series of switchable light sources arranged in a circle, preferably light emitting diodes.

Within the scope of the invention the counting and indication device can be expanded with several other options and functions, for instance for showing the average number of jumps per second, the amount of used energy, the heart rate per minute of the user and the like.

By providing the counting and indication device with a battery it is also possible to use it at any place. It is then desirable that switching from battery to the power line can occur automatically.

It is also possible to link one or more counting and indication devices according to the invention with an Internet site for purposes of registration, or to connect them to each other for the purpose of having a competition. 

1. Counting and indication device for jumping a rope comprising: a detection unit for detection of a rope to be used when jumping the rope; a counting device that is connected to the detection unit for counting the moments that the rope passes as detected by the detection unit; and a display device for showing the count of the counting device, wherein the detection unit comprises a radar transmitter and receiver.
 2. Counting and indication device according to claim 1, wherein the radar transmitter and receiver is operable on the frequency of about 24 GHz.
 3. Counting and indication device according to claim 1, wherein the radar transmitter and receiver possesses a transmittal and receipt angle which amounts in the horizontal plane about 70° and in the vertical plane about 11°.
 4. Counting and indication device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is arranged for observing at least two parameters that are characteristic for the movement of the rope.
 5. Counting and indication device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two parameters comprise speed and distance of the rope in relation to the detection unit.
 6. Counting and indication device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is an at least four digit display.
 7. Counting and indication device according to claim 1, additionally comprising an indicator for showing a time duration.
 8. Counting and indication device according to claim 7, wherein the indicator comprises a series of switchable light sources arranged as a circle.
 9. Counting and indication device according to claim 8, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes.
 10. Use of a counting and indication device according to claim 1, wherein the jumping the rope occurs in the transmittal and receipt angle of the radar transmitter and receiver on a distance in respect of the counting and indication device amounting to at most approximately 3.5 meters.
 11. Use according to claim 10, wherein the counting and indication device is mounted on a height with respect to the floor in the range 0.5 to 2 meters. 